Will this be solid enough to be safe?

[CrazyCatLady76]

We're in the planning stages of our very first coop/tractor and trying to balance several factors--security and weather protection, a nice appearance so the neighborhood old biddies don't squawk about our biddies, and keeping the whole thing light enough to move on a regular basis. And, of course, keeping the cost down to a reasonable level. What I was thinking of doing was this:

Build the frame with 2x4, with 3/8" barn siding on the exterior, a layer of insulation inside the frame, and on the interior 1/4" OSB with several coats of paint. That seems like it would keep the girls stylish, cozy, and mobile, I just worry that they might not be entirely safe. I see that a lot of people use 1/2" plywood for their coop walls, and the total thickness is close to 1/2", but it seems like it would be easier to tear/gnaw through 2 1/4" pieces than 1 1/2" piece. Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[patandchickens]

I'd be a little leery of using just 3/8" siding if that is ALL that'll be on the studs (no plywood or osb behind it). My uncle has had raccoons rip apart 3/8" plywood, not by prying back a loose end but just by starting at a non-loose edge and I guess yanking/chewing/clawing real hard. And your pieces would be smaller thus potentially easier for coons to remove.

It is usually not real hard to scrounge plywood.

You can certainly try it with just the thin siding if you want, and maybe you will get lucky for long enough; I'm just saying, it is not the safEST bet.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[CrazyCatLady76]

There would be 1/4" OSB on the inside forming the interior walls of the coop, making a framing/insulation sandwich. My main worry was whether I should use the thicker (and much heavier) plywood for the inside walls if there will be siding and insulation to get through before you can get to the OSB. I don't care anything about the extra $20 or so to use the thicker board, but we're talking about a fair lot of extra weight on something we plan to move a couple times a week, which does concern me.

 

[Chicken Delight]

We had a large dog come in the middle of the night, tear through our wood fence and eat its way through 1/2 inch exterior plywood. Will be surrounding the next coop with 6' chain-link fence with concrete foundation to keep the dogs away. I am not sure there is a completely secure coop out there, but I am searching for it.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Ok, I see where you're coming from now.

I guess it's a calculated risk. Having multiple layers of fundamentally-weak material is still fundamentally-weak, as a raccoon can just go thru it layer by layer (pretty easily). If it wants.

I wonder whether you might use 1/2" hardwarecloth, or good 1x1" welded wire, instead of the plywood? With vapor-barrier plastic between it and the insulation. This would result in your siding being attached *a tad* less securely because it'd be over wire not over plywood, but if you use screws that should be ok in my opinion, and you would get a result that was pretty darn predatorproof AND lightweight. It would cost a little bit more but as this will be a small coop to begin with the cost of wrapping it in mesh shouldn't be that high.

Alternatively, instead of using the 3/8" siding, just use 5/8" or 3/4" plywood for the coop's outside walls and paint it up real nice. You can glue false battens onto it if you want it to LOOK barn-board-y

The weight will be about the same as your original suggestion but it will be much more predatorproof.

Not sure what the best solution is -- or, you could go with original plan and just keep fingers crossed! -- just tossing these out as options to consider.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Yes, that's the tradeoff: security vs. weight. The other problem with a tractor design is its vulnerability to predators digging in under the edge. You can mitigate this somewhat by attaching an apron to the tractor, but that's never going to be as secure as an apron that's permanently staked down.

I built a stationary coop/run for nighttime security and day times whenever we're not at home. Then during the days we're home, I put the flock in a nice, lightweight day tractor. For us, it's the best of both worlds.